Istanbul ๐น๐ท
|
Larnaca ๐จ๐พ
|
Porto ๐ต๐น
|
Tbilisi ๐ฌ๐ช
|
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Population | 15,520,000 | 144,900 | 237,559 | 1,108,700 |
Official language(s) | Turkish | Greek | Portuguese | Georgian |
Level of English | Low | High | Very High | Low |
Main airport | Istanbul Airport (IST) | Larnaca International Airport (LCA) | Francisco Sรก Carneiro International Airport (OPO) | Tbilisi International Airport (TBS) |
Most common months to visit | April - June, September and October | March - May, October - December | May - September | March - June |
Currency | TRY - Turkish Lira (โบ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | EUR - Euro (โฌ) | GEL - Georgian Lari (โพ) |
Credit cards | Accepted in most places | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere | Accepted everywhere |
Remote worker visa | No | No | Yes | Yes |
Average monthly costs | $659 | $1959 | $1759 | $1462 |
Rent | $354 | $678 | $717 | $752 |
Groceries | $44 | $157 | $148 | $112 |
Dining out | $81 | $261 | $280 | $169 |
Cafe | $18 | $56 | $45 | $45 |
Coworking space | $49 | $209 | $96 | $125 |
Mobile internet | $3 | $35 | $21 | $4 |
Public transportation | $6 | $63 | $95 | $8 |
Taxis | $6 | $42 | $25 | $14 |
Shared bicycles and scooters | $2 | $45 | $10 | $27 |
Sport and cultural events | $11 | $28 | $45 | $21 |
Museums and sights | $15 | $8 | $24 | $9 |
Nightlife | $22 | $110 | $66 | $53 |
Gym | $9 | $107 | $56 | $33 |
Yoga | $23 | $105 | $82 | $37 |
Massage | $15 | $54 | $48 | $53 |
SIM card options | Turkcell, Turk Telekom | Primetel, Cytamobile-Vodafone and Epic/MTN | Vodafone, MEO, NOS | Magti GSM, Geocell, Beeline |
Tipping | Tip 5-10% in restaurants, cafรฉs and bars | 10% usually added and expected at restaurants, round up at bars | 5-10% at restaurants if happy with service, not expected at cafes or bars | 10% usually included in bill, not expected at bars or cafรฉs. |
Taxi apps | BiTaksi | nTaxi | Uber, MyTaxi, Cabify | Yandex, Bolt |
Tap water | Not drinkable | Not drinkable | Drinkable | Not drinkable |
Overall cuisine | A fusion of cultures creates diverse dishes with bulgur, koftes, stews, eggplants and fish | Mediterranean style with emphasis on seafood, meats, olives, cheesed and traditional sauces. Some food with Middle Eastern influences as well.. | A variety of meats often mixed with fresh legumes and vegetables. Emphasis on rich seafood dishes and creamy desserts. | Cuisine of the Caucasus meets regional diversity in Georgia. Emphasis on spices and meats (poultry, beef, pork and mutton) as well as soups and creams. |
Local food specialities | Dรถner, ฤฐรงli Kรถfte, Dondurma, Karnฤฑyarฤฑk, Turkish delight | Souvlaki, sheftalia, kleftiko, stifado, halloumi, koukepia and moussaka | Bacalhau, Alheira de Mirandela, Francesinha, queido da serra da estrela, tripas a moda do Oporto, pasteis de chaves, tarte de amendoa | Kachapuri, kuchmachi, khinkali, chikhirtma, kharcho with gomi, jonjoli |
Eat like a local | Traditional breakfasts, street stalls for simit, lahmacun and kokorec, Turkish coffee | Opt for smaller, outside eateries and taverns serving traditional foods. Fast food kebab shops and falafel bars offer authentic options, too. | Local taverns, terraces, markets, tascas, churrascarias and local sports bars | Small local restaurants, open bars, terraces and wine bars |
Vegetarian / vegan options | 59 listings on Happy Cow | 14 options on HappyCow, but non-meat Mediterranean/Middle Eastern options are always available | 46 options on Happy Cow | 10 options on Happy Cow |